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Puneet Goenka made Zee TV business head as part of top management changes
MUMBAI: In a significant development, Zee Telefilms Ltd (ZTL) has restructured its top management. The most crucial is the change at the top for flagship channel Zee TV. Puneet Goenka, who had been overseeing the operations of Zee Sports, has been made Zee TV business head.
Meanwhile, the outgoing Zee TV business head Abhijit Saxena returns to the arena where he first made a mark, the distribution business. Saxena will also supervise special projects for Zee TV. Zee Telefilms executive vice-president Himanshu Modi will look after the Zee Sports operations as a stop-gap arrangement.
Confirming the developments to indiantelevision.com, ZTL vice president Ashish Kaul says, “The changes are effective immediately. The purpose is to provide job enrichment and additional responsibilities to people who are key to the organisation. Abhijit had a very successful stint looking after the international operations. The market is growing tremendously and a new thrust has been given to distribution now. We wanted an experienced hand who has a good track record to look after this area and Saxena perfectly fits the bill.”
In another development, Zee Bangla business head JK Ray returns to Mumbai. Zee business head of English channels Ajay Trigunayat will replace Ray. Trigunayat is presently serving a long leave due to health reasons. It is learnt that, Neil Chakravarthy, who joined ZTL as convergence head this year, will be replacing Trigunayat as head of English channels.
“I will be joining the Mumbai office on 19 September. Trigunayat will take charge as Zee Bangla head once he joins back. My new role at Zee is yet to be decided,” Ray told this website from Kolkata.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
